Circuit breaker



A. E. MAIER ETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER April 21, 1959 Filed June 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES W V/ 4W;

Alfred E. Meier a John H.Tcylor Q 5?] W ATTORN Y April 1959 A. E. MAIER ETAL 2,883,585

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed June 15. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

lnsula o 30 April 21, 1959 CIRCUIT BREAKER Fi led June 15. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3.

Fig.7.

A. E. MAIER ETAL v2,883,585

April 21, 1959.

' CIRCUIT BREAKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 15, 1954 United States Patent 6 CIRCUIT BREAKER Alfred E. Maier, Turtle Creek, and John H. Taylor, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 15, 1954, Serial No. 436,828

9 Claims. (Cl. 317-22) This invention relates to circuit breakers and more particularly to control means for controlling the closing operation of a circuit breaker.

When closing a circuit breaker by means of an alternating current solenoid, it is necessary to maintain the solenoid energized until the breaker is fully closed and latched, otherwise the breaker will return to the open position. Such closing solenoids are usually energized under the control of a closing relay which is automatically dropped out at the end of the closing stroke of the moving armature of the closing solenoid. Thus, it might happen that the closing relay is dropped out, deenergizing the closing solenoid before the latch mechanism has latched the breaker mechanism in the closed position. This results in the breaker returning to the open position.

An object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a closing solenoid with means for maintaining the closing solenoid energized for a predetermined time after the moving armature of the solenoid has completed its closing stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a solenoid closing mechanism with means for delaying deenergization of the closing solenoid until after the breaker is closed and latched.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a closing solenoid which is energized over the contacts of a relay with means for delaying opening of the relay contacts for a predetermined time after the closing solenoid has completed its closing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a closing solenoid for closing the breaker, energized by means of a relay having trip-free contact means with time delay means actuated by the moving armature of the closing solenoid for delaying opening of the relay contacts for a predetermined time after the solenoid armature has completed its closing stroke.

The invention both as to structure and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a circuit breaker embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken through the center pole of the circuit breaker.

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially on line ill-411 of Fig. 4 showing the control relay and the time delay actuator for tripping the relay contacts open.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view partly in section of the closing solenoid, the control relay and the time delay actuator therefor.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly broken away, of the closing solenoid and showing a modification of the time delay actuator.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the .control circuit for the circuit breaker.

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the armature, contact lever and latch means for control relay.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the cylinder of the time delay device shown in Fig. 5.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a circuit breaker of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,669,623, issued February 16, 1954, to l. B. MacNeill, Fritz Flori schutz, Ture Lindstrorn and Bernard G. Tremblay and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, but can be applied to other types of breakers.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the circuit breaker includes a plurality of pole units each comprising a separable contact structure indicated generally at 11, and an overcurrent trip device indicated generally at 13. The contact structure and the trip device for each pole are mounted on separate insulating bases 15 which are rigidly secured to a metal panel 17. Since the pole units are alike, only the center pole unit (Fig. 2) will be described.

The bases 15 of the several pole units are secured to the panel by means of screws 19 threaded into metal inserts 21 molded into the insulating bases 15.

The contact structure comprises a stationary main contact 23, stationary intermediate contact 24 and a stationary arcing contact 25 all supported on the inner end of a terminal conductor 27 which extends through suitable clearance openings in the base 15 and panel 17. Cooperating with the stationary main, intermediate and arcing contacts 23, 24 and 25, respectively, is a movable main contact 29, a movable intermediate contact 30 and an arcing contact 31. The movable main contact 29 is mounted on a contact carrying member 33 which is loosely supported on a movable switch member 35 piv' otally mounted by means of a pivot pin 37 on a bracket 39. The bracket 39 is secured by means of a screw 41. A bridging contact member 43 is normally biased by a spring 45 into engagement with the lower end of the contact carrying member 33 and into frictional engagement with the bracket 39.

The trip device 13 comprises an energizing coil 47, the upper end of which is connected by means of a bolt 49 to the lower end of the bracket 39, the lower turn of the coil 47 being connected to the inner end of a terminal 51 by means of a bolt 53. The bolts 49 and 43 serve also to secure the trip device to the base 15.

The stationary arcing contact 25 and the stationary intermediate contact 24 are mounted on a contact carrying member 55 which is supported for limited movement relative to the terminal 27 and is biased by means of a spring 57 to follow the movable contact structure for a predetermined distance during opening of the contacts. A spring 59 compressed between the bracket 39 and the movable switch member arm 35 biases the latter in opening direction.

The movable contact structure is normally maintained in the closed position by an operating mechanism indicated generally at 61 (Fig. 2) mounted in an M-shaped frame 63. The frame comprises spaced side members 65 and a connecting cross member 67 and is supported on a platform 69, which forms a cross member of a main bracket comprising a pair of spaced side members 71 (Figs. 1 and 2) joined at their outer ends by the cross member on platform 69. The platform extends across the width of the breaker and the side members 71 are rigidly secured to the panel 17 on the outsides of the two outer pole units.

The operating mechanism includes a lever 73 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 75 supported in the side members 65 of the frame 63. The lever 73 comprises a pair of spaced levers joined by a cross member 77 and between them support a rod 79 which extends across all of the poles of the breaker. The rod 79 is operatively connected to the movable switch member 35 by means of an insulating connecting member 81 and a pivot pin 82 in the switch member. There is a connecting member 81 for each pole of the breaker connecting the rod 79 to the moving contact structure for each pole unit so that upon operation of the rod 79, the movable contact structures for all three poles moves in unison.

An operating linkage comprising toggle links 83, 85 and 87 is provided to hold the lever 73 and consequently, the movable contacts in the closed position and to operate the movable contacts to open and closed positions. The toggle link 83 is pivotally connected to the lever '73 by a pivot pin 89 and the toggle link 85 is connected by a knee pivot pin 91 to the toggle link 83 and by a knee pivot pin to the toggle link 87. The toggle link 87 is pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot 97 in the frame 63 and has a cam member 95 thereon.

The linkage 83, 85, 87 comprises two toggles one of which 83, 85 functions as a tripping toggle and the other 85, 87 as a closing toggle. The tripping toggle is normally slightly underset above a line drawn through the pivot pins 89, 93 and the closing toggle 85, 87 is normally slightly below a line drawn through the pivots 91, 97.

The tripping toggle 83, 85 is normally biased in a direction to cause its collapse by components of the springs 45, 57 and 59 which bias the moving contact structure for the several poles of the breaker in opening direction and bias the connecting members 81 toward the left (Fig. 2). The tripping toggle 83, 85 is normally prevented from collapsing by means of a main latch member 99 pivoted on a pin 100 and connected by a link 101 to the knee pin 91 of the tripping toggle, the link 101 being connected to the latch member 99 by a pivot pin 103.

The main latch 99 is held in latching position by an intermediate latch lever 105 pivoted on a pin 107 supported in the frame 63. The latch lever 105 carries a latch roller 111 which normally engages the main latch 99 to releasably hold the latter in holding position. The latch lever 105 at its lower end carries a latch member 113 which normally engages a light-load 115 on a channel-shaped member 117 pivoted on a pin 119 in the frame 63. The latch lever 105 and the member 117 are biased to their latching positions by a spring 121 tensioned between the parts as shown in Fig. 3. Rigidly mounted on the right hand end of the channel-shaped member 117 is a trip bar 123 which extends across all of the poles of the breaker and has secured thereto an insulating bracket 125 for each pole of the breaker. Each of the brackets 125 has a headed screw 127 adjustably mounted therein for cooperating with the trip device 13 for the corresponding pole unit.

As long as the main latch 99 is held in latching position by the latching mechanism just described, the tripping toggle 83, 85 will, through the link 101, be held in the position shown in which the breaker contacts are held in the closed position. The closing toggle 85, 37 is nor mally prevented from collapsing by a shouldered support member 131 pivoted on the pin 107 and biased by a spring 133 into supporting engagement with the knee pin 93 of the closing toggle.

Rigidly secured to the front plate or cross member 67 of the frame 63 is a bearing member 135 in which 1 is rotatably mounted a handle shaft 137 to the outer end latched position with the support member 131 supporting the closing toggle 85, 87 in its extended thrust transmitting position, the circuit breaker is tripped open by manually rotating the handle in the proper direction. During this movement, the roller 143 engages and actuates the channel shaped member 117 to disengage the latch member 115 from the latch 113 whereupon the force exerted by the spring 45, 57 and 59 biasing the switch arms 35 in opening direction and which is transmitted through the connecting members 81, the rod 79 and the lever 73, causes the tripping toggle 83, to collapse upwardly and effects opening movement of the movable contacts for all of the poles of the breaker.

The closing toggle 85, 87 does not immediately collapse following release of the latch mechanism since it is held by the support 131. During the unlatching movement of the main latch 99, a cam (not shown) thereon engages the tail of the support member 131 and moves this member clockwise about its pivot 107 to disengage the shoulder thereon from beneath the pin 93 whereupon the toggle 85, 8'7 collapses downwardly under its own weight and the weight of the moving armature of a closing solenoid, which will be described later. Collapse of the closing toggle 85, 87 causes resetting of the tripping toggle 83, $5 to thrust transmitting position and also causes resetting of the latching mechanism to latching position. The operating mechanism is now in condition for a closing operation.

The circuit breaker is automatically tripped open by operation of the trip device 13 for any pole of the breaker. The trip device may be of any suitable type, preferably of the type fully disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,669,623 which is arranged to trip the breaker after a time delay and also instantaneously in response to overload currents of different values on short circuit currents.

The contacts are closed either manually by operation of the handle 139 or by operation of a closing solenoid indicated generally at 145 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). In order to close the contacts manually, the handle 139 is moved in the direction opposite to the direction it is moved to manually trip the breaker. This movement of the handle causes the roller 143 to engage the cam on the closing toggle 85, 87 and straightens the closing toggle. Since, at this time, the knee of the tripping toggle 83, 85 is restrained by the latching mechanism, the thrust of straightening the closing toggle 85, 87 is transmitted through the tripping toggle to rotate the lever 73 in a clockwise direction to close the breaker contacts, as the knee pin 93 of the closing toggle arrives at the fully closed position, the spring 133 restores the support member 131 to supporting engagement with the knee pin 93 to maintain the contacts closed.

The circuit breaker is closed automatically by energization of the closing solenoid 14-5 which is effected either manually or automatically by means of a closing relay indicated generally at 147 (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6) which is energized by closing a suitable switch 149. The closing solenoid comprises a fixed M-shaped magnet yoke 151 and a fixed core member 153 mounted on the underside of the platform 69. A movable armature 155 is attached to the lower end of an operating rod 157 which extends upwardly and has its upper end pivotally connected to the knee pivot pin 93 of the closing toggle 85, 87. An energizing coil 159 is supported on a cross member 161 secured by means of bolts 163 to the lower ends of the legs of the U-shaped magnet yoke 151.

In the closed position of the breaker, the armature 155 is held in its raised position in which it is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When the breaker is tripped open, the closing toggle 85, 87 collapses downward permitting the armature to assume its lower or unattracted position as shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. 4. Thereafter, upon energization of the coil 159, the armature 155 is attracted upn1 ward and acts through the rod 157 to straighten the closing toggle 85, 87 and close the breaker.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the control relay 147 comprises a U-shaped magnet yoke 165 having a fixed core member 167 secured thereto. The magnet yoke 165 is .mounted on the under side of the platform 69 by means of bolts 169 and a spacer 171. An energizing winding 173 wound on an insulating spool 175 is disposed between the legs of the U-shaped magnet yoke 165 and a movable armature 177 is disposed for movement within the winding. Secured to the bottom leg of the magnet yoke 165 is an insulating housing 179 in which is mounted the contacts and latch means for the relay. A switch lever 181 (Figs. 3 and 7) is mounted on a pivot pin 183 supported in the housing 179. The lever 181 is biased to open position by means of a spring 180 cornpressed between the housing 179 and the switch lever. At one end, the lever 181 resiliently carries a pair of contact arms 185 (only one being shown) which operate sets of contacts 187 and 189 (Fig. 6).

The other end of the switch lever 181 is bifurcated and has mounted therein a latch pin 193 adapted to be engaged by a latch surface 195 on a link 197. The link 197 is pivotally connected to the movable armature 177 by means of a pivot pin 199 (see also Fig. 7). A spring 201 biases the link 197 in a direction to cause the latch surface 195 to engage the pin 193, but in the closed and latched position of the circuit breaker, the latch link 197 is held in disengaged relation with the pin 193 by means of a yoke member 203, the legs of which are pivotally mounted on a pin 205 supported in the housing 179. A spring 207 (Figs. 4 and 7) biases the yoke member 203 in a direction to permit the spring 201 to engage the link 197 with the pin 193.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings which schematically illustrates the circuit breaker and the control circuit in the closed condition of the circuit breaker, the control relay 147 controls the contacts 187 and 189, however, when the breaker closing solenoid 145 functions to close the breaker, a device indicated generally at 209 and presently to be described, actuates the link 197 to disengage the latch surface 195 from the pin 193 permitting the spring 180 to move the switch lever 181 to the open position, thus opening the contacts 187 and 189 to deenergizc the closing solenoid.

When the closing toggle 85, 87 collapses during an opening operation, the armature 155 (Fig. 1) of the closing solenoid drops down to its unattracted position actuating the device 209 to permit engagement of the link 197 with the switch lever 181 so that, upon energization of t the control relay coil 173, the armature 177 acting through the link 197 will close the contacts 187 and 189 to effect energization of the breaker closing solenoid 145.

Heretofore, the yoke member 203 (Fig. 3) has been actuated by the armature of the closing solenoid through a rigid member to trip the switch lever 181 free of the relay armature and deenergize the closing solenoid 145. Under certain conditions, the control relay contacts dropped out and deenergized the closing solenoid 145 before the breaker was fully closed and latched. To overcome this condition, the device 209 is provided and is operated by the armature of the closing solenoid to effect opening of the control relay contacts with a sufficient time delay after the closing solenoid armature has reached its maximum closing stroke to permit the breaker mechanism to relatch.

The actuating device 209 comprises a two part housing including a base 211 and a cover plate 213 secured together by a stud 215 and mounted on one leg of the U- shaped magnet yoke 151 of the closing solenoid. 145 by means of screws 217. A slide 219 is mounted in grooves 221 in the top and bottom flanges 223 and 225 of the base 211 for vertical sliding movement. The slide 219 is provided with an elongated clearance slot 227 for the stud 215 and has shoulders 229 formed thereon for limiting the downward movement of the slide by engagement with the bottom flange 224 of the base. Upward movement of the slide 219 is limited by shoulders 231 formed by an enlarged lower portion 233 of the slide engaging the under side of the bottom flange 225. A pair of opposing overcenter springs 235 and 237 are provided for actuating the slide 219. The outer ends of the springs 235 and 237 pivot at 239 in openings in the cover 213 and the inner ends of the springs engage in openings 241 in the slide 219. The upper end of the slide 219 is bent over at right angles to the body of the slide to form a flange 243 which is adapted to engage the head of a screw 245 mounted in one leg of the yoke member 203 above the pivot 205. The enlarged lower end 233 of the slide has a rectangular opening 247 through which extends one end of a leaf spring 249 having its other end secured by means of bolts 251 to the bottom of the movable core 155 of the breaker closing solenoid.

The device is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the circuit breaker in the closed and latched position wherein the closing solenoid armature 155 is held in the upper position. When the breaker is opened and the toggle -87 (Fig. 1) collapses downward, the armature drops to its lower position as shown in dot and dash lines at 155 (Fig. 4). During the movement, the leaf spring 249 engages the bottom of the opening 247 in the slide 219 and moves the slide downward causing the overcenter springs 235 and 237 to go overcenter below a horizontal line through the inner ends 239 of the springs as shown by dot and dash lines at 235a and 237a in Fig. 3. When the slide 219 moves downward, the flange 243 frees the screw 245 and permits the spring 207 (Figs. 4 and 7) to move the yoke member 203 clockwise whereupon the spring 201 (Figs. 3 and 7) causes the link 197 to engage the latch with the pin 193 in the switch lever 181. The parts remain in the positions first described until the control relay is energized.

Referring now to Fig. 6 of the drawings, the coil 173 of the control relay is energized by closing the switch 149 which efi'ects energization of the control relay over a circuit extending from one side 253 of a control circuit over a wire 255, the switch 149, coil 173 of the control relay 147 and a wire 257 to the other side 259 of the control circuit.

When energized, the relay 147 attracts the armature 177 upwardly and, since at this time the link 197 is latched to the switch lever 181, the armature moves the switch lever to close the contacts 187 and 189 (Fig. 6). Closure of the contacts 187 and 189 seals in the relay over the wire 255, contacts 187 and 189, a resistance 261, coil 173 of the control relay and wire 257 to the line 259. Closing the contacts 187 and 189 energizes the coil 159 of the breaker closing solenoid over wire 255, contacts 187 and 189, a wire 263, coil 159 of the closing solenoid and wire 257 to the line 259. As previously set forth, the closing solenoid, when energized, thrusts upwardly on the closing toggle 85, 87 straightening this toggle and closing the breaker contacts.

As the armature 155 of the closing solenoid moves upwardly, it moves the leaf spring 249 therewith. Just before the armature 155 is stopped at its uppermost position, the leaf spring 249 engages the upper end of the opening 247 (Fig. 3) in the slide 219 and is flexed due to the inertia of the slide. Shortly before the closing movement of the armature 155 and of the circuit breaker parts have stopped, the leaf spring 249 engages and moves the slide 219 upwardly carrying the inner ends of the overcenter springs 235, 237 overcenter above the pivot points 239 whereupon the overcenter springs move the slide 219 upwardly causing the flange or ear 243 to engage the screw 245, after a time delay due to the length of travel of the slide, and move the yoke member 203 counterclockwise. This causes the yoke member 203 to engage the lower end of the link 197 and disengage the link from the switch lever 181 permitting the spring 180 to open the contacts 187 and 189.

Since the leaf spring 249 does not move the springs 235, 237 overcenter until after the armature 155 and the breaker mechanism has stopped the closing movement, a short time delay is provided in the opening of the control relay contacts after the armature has stopped. This time delay, while short, is sufficient to permit the breaker mechanism to be relatched in the closed position before the closing solenoid is deenergized by opening of the control relay contacts 187 and 189.

According to the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. and 8, the time delay means for delaying the dropping out of the control relay until after the breaker is fully closed and latched comprises an air dashpot device indicated generally at 265 (Figs. Sand 8) which is actuated by the closing solenoid armature in a manner similar to that previously described.

The dashpot device 265 comprises a movable cylinder 267 disposed between the control relay and the leaf spring 249. The cylinder 267 is provided with a tap closure or plug 269 and a similar plug 271 closes and seals the bottom end of the cylinder. A piston 273 disposed in the cylinder 267 is mounted on an angular bracket 275 which is secured by means of screws 277 and has an end extending through a slot 279 in the cylinder wall into the cylinder to hold the piston 273 stationary upon movement of the cylinder.

As shown in Fig. 5, the circuit breaker is in the closed position with the armature 155 of the closing solenoid in its uppermost position. In this position leaf spring 249 is under tension and holds the cylinder 267 in its upper position wherein the plug 269 cooperates with the screw 245 to hold the yoke member 203 in the position shown in Fig. 7 in which the link 197 is maintained disengaged from the pin 193. When the circuit breaker is tripped open, the armature 155 of the closing solenoid drops to its lower position causing the leaf spring 249 to release the cylinder 267 which then moves downward as air is admitted around the piston 273 to the cylinder below the piston. The downward movement of the cylinder 267 trees the screw 245 permitting the spring 207 (Fig. 7) to move the yoke member 203 clockwise which, in turn, permits the spring 201 to engage the latch 195 with the pin 193 in the switch lever 181.

Thereafter, when the control relay 147 is energized, it closes its contacts 187, 189 in the previously described manner and energizes the coil 159 of the closing solenoid which attracts the armature 155 upwardly and closes the circuit breaker. During the upward or closing movement of the armature 155, the leaf spring 249 engages the bottom of the cylinder 267 and deflects since upward movement of the cylinder is retarded by the air trapped there in below the piston 273. The tension of the leaf spring 249 continues to move the cylinder 267 upward after the armature 155 has stopped as the air below the piston 273 is forced out around the piston. During the upward movement of the cylinder 267 the upper end thereof engages the 'screw 245 and actuates the yoke member 203 to trip the closing relay switch lever 181 free of the relay armature by unlatching the link 197 from the pin 193. This effects opening of the relay contacts 187, 189 and causes deenergization of the closing solenoid coil 159.

The amount of time delay provided by the device 265 is small but is sufficient to delay tripping the closing relay open long enough after the armature 155 has stopped its closing movement to insure that the breaker mechanism is latched closed before deenergizing the closing solenoid. Having described the invention in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the structural details and combination of elements disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim as our invention: 1. In a circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, and operating mechanism for opening and closing said contacts, the combination of power operated means for closing said contacts, a relay operable when energized to effect energization of said power operated means, and a time-delay mechanism engaged and actuated by said power operated closing means during a closing operation thereof to mechanically actuate said relay and cause raid relay to effect deenergization of said power operated means a predetermined time after said power operated means has completed the closing operation.

2. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means, operating means releasable to efiect opening of said contact means, and power operated means comprising a solenoid having an armature movable to close said contact means, the combination of a relay operable when energized to effect energization of said solenoid, circuit means maintaining said relay energized, a member mechanically movable to actuate said relay and effect deenergization of both said relay and said closing solenoid, resilient means on said armature for engaging and moving said movable member, and overcenter spring actuated by said resilient means for delaying movement of said movable member.

3. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means, and electromagnetic means for closing said contact means, the combination of a closing relay for effecting energization of said closing electromagnetic means, a member mechanically movable to actuate said relay and cause said relay to efiect deenergization of said closing electromagnetic means, stored energy means actuated by said electromagnetic closing means for mechanically moving said member, said closing electromagnetic means during a closing operation storing energy in said stored energy means, and overcenter spring means actuated by said stored energy means and connected to delay movement of said member to efiect deenergization of said electromagnetic closing means until a predetermined time after a closing operation.

4. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means, and electromagnetic means for closing said contact means, the combination of a closing relay operable when energized to effect energization of said electromagnetic closing means, said relay having contact means biased open and releasable irrespective of the energized condition of said relay, a member movable to effect release of said relay contacts and opening of said relay contact means to etiect deenergization of said electromagnetic closing means, stored energy means on said electromagnetic closing means for mechanically moving said member, said electromagnetic closing means storing energy in said stored energy means during a closing operation, and time delay means actuated by said stored energy means and connected to delay movement of said member to etiect opening of said relay contact means until a predetermined time after the end of a closing operation of said electromagnetic closing means.

5. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means, and electromagnetic means for closing said contact means, the combination of a closing relay operable when energized to eiiect energization of said electromagnetic closing means, said relay having contact means biased open and releasable irrespective of the energized conditions of said relay, a member movable to eifect opening of said relay contact means to effect deenergization or said electromagnetic closing means, stored energy means actuated by said electromagnetic means for engaging and mechanically moving said member, said electromagnetic closing means storing energy in said stored energy means during a closing operation, and time delay means comprising a dashpot actuated by said stored energy means for delaying movement of said member to eifect opening of said relay contact means until a predetermined time after said electromagnetic means has completed a closing operation.

6. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means, and power operated means for closing said contact means, the combination of a relay for effecting energization of said power operated means, circuit means eifecting energization of said relay and maintaining said relay energized, a device movable to effect deenergization of both said relay and said power operated means, spring means mounted on and actuated by said power operated closing means for engaging and mechanically moving said device, and said device including time delay means comprising a dashpot actuated iby said power operated closing means for delaying movement of said device to efiect deenergization of said power operated means until a predetermined time after said power operated means has completed a closing operation.

7, In a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means, and power operated means for closing said contact means, the combination of a relay for effecting energization of said power operated means, and a dashpot mechanically actuated by said power operated means for actuating said relay to efifect deenergization of said power operated means, said dashpot delaying actuation of said relay until a predetermined time after said power operated means has completed a closing operation.

8. In a circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contact means and operating mechanism for opening and closing said contact means, the combination of electroresponsive means for closing said contact means, a closing relay operable when energized to eilect energization of said electroresponsive closing means, circuit means maintaining said closing relay energized, a mechanism mechanically actuated by said electroresponsive means eflecting deenergization of both said closing relay and said electroresponsive closing means, said mechanism including a time delay device for delaying deenergization of said closing relay and said electroresponsive closing means for a predetermined time after the closing operation of said electroresponsive closing means.

9. In a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means and electroresponsive means for closing said contact means, the combination of a closing relay operable when energized to eflect energization of said electroresponsive closing means, circuit means maintaining said closing relay energized, a mechanism operable to eifect deenergization of said closing relay and said electroresponsive closing means, resilient means on said electroresponsive means actuated by said electroresponsive closing means for mechanically operating said mechanisms, said mechanism including a time delay device for delaying deenergization of both said closing relay and said electroresponsive closing means until a predetermined time after said electroresponsive closing means has closed said contact means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,751 Wolfl? Apr. 25, 1916 2,006,254 Anderson June 25, 1935 2,380,802 Strang July 31, 1945 2,550,496 Reifschneider Apr. 24, 1951 

